HAGÅTÑA (The Guam Daily Post) — The Republic of Korea Navy Fleet held a ceremony welcoming cadets to their annual training on Guam while providing a tour of the ROKS Dokdo (LPH-6111) for the Korean Consulate of Guam and the press Sunday at Victor Wharf on U.S. Naval Base Guam.
Welcomed on board the Dokdo, dignitaries, military leaders and cadets received leis. A speech and a group photo with In Kook Kim, consul and head of consulate for the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Hagåtña, followed.
Andrew Kim, administrative assistant for the consulate, told The Guam Daily Post about the ROK Navy’s general mission and what the ceremony initiates for the cadets. “It’s mostly a learning experience for all of them,” Andrew Kim said.
“All the new cadets come here every year just to kind of check out how Guam is, how pretty much each base works, so they can learn from it. I know on the 15th they’ll have some nurses that are cadets as well, so they’re going to be going to the U.S. Naval Hospital just to, like, basic touring and training a little bit,” Andrew Kim said.
The ceremony concluded with a tour of the ROKS Dokdo, featuring the bridge and the deck that can hold around 27 helicopters, with Rear Adm. Young Su Kim, ROK Navy Fleet commander, encouraging questions from the guests regarding their ship and fleet.
Guests enjoyed lunch and dessert featuring Korean cuisine prepared by the ROK Navy and a fleet video presentation before the rear admiral presented the consul with a photo on board as a gift.
In Kook Kim, consul and head of consulate for the Consulate of the Republic of Korea in Hagåtña, gives a lei to a training cadet during an opening ceremony on the ROKS Dokdo at Victor Wharf on U.S. Naval Base Guam on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023.
Dignitaries tour the ROKS Dokdo bridge at Victor Wharf on U.S. Naval Base Guam on Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023.
